Your Pace
How My Values Influence My Home Design
Moving into my first place alone was pivotal in my life. After always sharing homes, having a place of my own provided me with literal space to process the major shift I was undergoing at 40.
I enjoy decorating, but I relish combining beauty with usefulness. That’s just another way of saying I want the things I use to be beautiful, and because I don’t like clutter, they also need to be functional.
Living intentionally means that we can be free from the fleeting nature of what’s current, or worse, viral. It means we have a "why" behind what we do, irrespective of its popularity, whether alone or in the company of others. For example, if I’m not in the habit of meal planning, I will end up eating out a lot more than is healthy for my budget and waistline.
I wanted to review the values guiding my decision-making regarding my home design.
I am the only person bringing things into my home, so I’m solely responsible for whether I’m respecting these values or not. I’d like to reflect on are joy, restoration, and function.
Joy
I was immediately inspired when I toured my studio apartment. The stark white walls were beckoning me. I hadn’t painted in a long time and thought, “Here is my blank canvas!” I couldn’t wait to move in and make this place my own. I knew that I wanted to fill the space with vibrant colors. The wall art would be personal, either my own or from artists I know. I love supporting small business owners, so surrounding myself with something mass-produced feels impersonal. Now, my budget doesn’t afford me the joys of curated art—at least, not yet, if ever!
Everything in my apartment is beautiful, even if it doesn’t meet popular taste. Beauty will always bring a smile to my face. I’m not trying to keep up with trends because trends pass, and I so don’t like to be wasteful!
Restoration
Someone once counted my plants and found there were 23. That’s a lot of plants in a tiny space! I am by no means a master gardener, and some of those plant babies have come to a slow death. Most, however, are thriving.
I think of my apartment as a secret garden. These plants fill my home with natural color and life. Plant life is a powerful symbol of restoration for me. They need to be nurtured. I can’t tend to them in a rush. Whenever I’m watering them, I’m drawn into a reflective mode. If I’m careless and rush, I risk overwatering or overlooking some. So plant nurturing has become a ritual. They inspire me to meditate as I check the soil and leaves, looking for signs of health or decline. True, I’m checking in on the plants, but I often discover that I’m running a self-check. I run a physical check—Did I get enough sleep? Do I need to exercise? Are my meals balanced? I also run an emotional and mental check—What is my emotional state right now? Is my soul at peace?
Function
I have few things that are solely for decorative use. The decor items I currently own all have a secret message. They remind me of a key value in my life. Take the pineapple I have in my entryway—it symbolizes hospitality. Whenever visitors come in, I welcome them beyond what words can express.
A small space means it can become cluttered rather quickly. Now, I’m not good at crosswords, but discovering the greatest functionality of items in my home is a sort of riddle, which I’m very good at. Here are a few examples of items that are either triple or dual-purpose:
Rattan floor seat – I use it as a footrest, and visitors can also sit on it
Ikea stool – Serves as a side table and extra seat for visitors.
18” tall bedframe – Both for storage and so I don’t struggle to get out of a low bed. Here are just a few things I have stored under my bed: a 5’ Christmas tree, large and carry-on suitcases, heater, tower fan, shoe storage, and 2 large Tupperware storage.
Ikea shoe storage – I wear size 10.5, so they hold all of two and a half pairs of shoes. I use them instead for pantry storage, trash, and recycling. They also double as small shelves in my tiny galley kitchen.
Joy, restoration, and functionality are important values for me right now. Some values shift according to the seasons in life. Can you identify a core value and how it shapes you at home? How can you use it to shape your home design?
